Carlsbad erupts late, defeats Aztec

ARTESIA -- The Carlsbad girls basketball team had trouble early on withstanding Aztec's quickness, but soon picked up the tempo on both ends and got multiple players involved.

Leading 19-15 entering the third quarter, they attacked the basket over and over and towered over the Tigers' quick, but fairly small, guards en route to a commanding 49-22 win Thursday morning to open the Artesia City of Champions Classic tournament.

Carlsbad outscored Aztec 18-0 in the third quarter, sinking basketbs and limiting Aztec's shot count. The Tigers struggled to get shots up, let alone make shots, right underneath the basket and out on the wings.

"We just picked up our energy. We were just running. We just weren't letting anything inside, trying to not let them go in the middle, cutting off the baseline," freshman guard Carsyn Boswell said.

As the score differential expanded, Carlsbad didn't let up and players helped the cause. Multiple players scored and were willing to put in the extra hustle for the "dirty work."

Nine Cavegirl players contributed on the scoring end. Carlsbad had 30 total rebounds and nine total steals.

"Our attitude changed. That was the difference," coach John Zumbrun said.

Carlsbad started sluggish, which Zumbrun said was because his team wasn't used to playing late-morning games. Zumbrun said he got "a little animated" with his players in the locker room at halftime about their first-half effort, and the Cavegirls had more fire in them by the second half.

Senior forward Rylan Gonsalez said Carlsbad focused more on defending Aztec under the basket.

Boswell scored a game-high 13 points and had two steals, Gonsalez had eight points and nine rebounds. Juniors Kim Best, Lauryn Wade and Teagan Rogers and senior Kaitlyn Clarkston combined for 18 points, 15 rebounds and four steals.

"When everyone comes alive, there's no stopping us," Gonsalez said. "It's huge because it means that every single person is contributing in some way and that everyone's doing their job."

Aztec sophomore guard Grace Olsen led the Tigers with seven points, while freshman center Reigan Weaver scored five points. Tigers senior guard Elana Kresl scored four points.

Carlsbad (4-0) will face Goddard at 3 p.m. Friday in the semifinals, while Aztec (3-2) will play Ruidoso at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the consolation semifinals.

CARLSBAD 49, AZTEC 22

Up next for Carlsbad: 3 p.m. Friday vs. Goddard (tournament semifinals)

Up next for Aztec: 8:30 a.m. Friday vs. Ruidoso (consolation semifinals)

Current-Argus Sports Editor Matt Hollinshead may be reached at 575-628-5518.